Problems with what my landlady is charging, don't know who to complain to, pls help!

Stone_Fox

I recently moved into a studio flat. All of the studio flats in the block have coin operated electricity meters fitted by the landlady who empties the meters herself once a month.

I've been there a week, and I'm paying approximately £40 per week for electricity a week for one room!

I've worked out my power draw (roughly) and I figure it should be closer to £8-10 per week based on the figure EDF energy say they are billing her at.

I had a friend of mine who's an engineer look at the meter and he thinks it's been tampered with in that the outer bezel round the coin slot which tells you what rate you're paying has been replace and he can't see any pin or indicator to say what rate the meter is charging.

Now i know it's illegal for her to charge me more than the power company charges her and I've tried talking to her about it but all she says is "the last tennant never complained" and avoids the subject.

I don't know who to turn to!

Energywatch website says to call consumer direct, who said it's not them try the housing ombudsmen. They said that as it's a private landlord who hasn't registered with them there's nothing they can do.

Who should I turn to next?!

macman

So what do you reckon you are being charged per Kwh?

KimYeovil

I would try Shelter - they may know who is most likely to help.

Does your meter have a record of units consumed?

spiro

Someone post a picture of one of these meters on here recently and there was a dial label 'unused units'. if your meter has one, check the number of 'unused units' put a £1 in the meter and see how many units are added. Divide a £1 by the number of units added and you have the unit price.

mackemdave

Have you spoken to the other tennats to see what they are paying and what electric items they have

barbie_babe

What about ring EDF and ask how this works then they can work out if you have a meter that should be used. They could also work out how much you should be paying.

I am with EDF and have a key meter for a three bed house and pay ten pounds a week on a bad week( weeks were I have had to use tumble dryer to dry clothes for six people) I pay fifteen. I think your landlady is getting you to pay for whole house and make a profit on top.

nikki2804

If you think that it has been tampered with then surely it should be EDF that would be dealing with it?

I heard about someone who tampered with there meter so that it turned less, so smaller bills. It was the supplier who looked into it.

Premier_2

nikki2804 wrote: »

If you think that it has been tampered with then surely it should be EDF that would be dealing with it?

I heard about someone who tampered with there meter so that it turned less, so smaller bills. It was the supplier who looked into it.

These are the landlady's own sub-meters.
As such, no supplier will be interested in them; the supplier is only interested in their own meter which they use to record total usage & charge the landlady.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

if it's this type of meter, in the small window in the middle look and see if pointer is at A or B, then look at the units per coin, the 'set at' indicator is roughly in line with the 's' of units, then note either A or B, then divide whatever coin you insert by that number to get price per unit.